Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) has won the Excellent Partner Award offered by Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care and Special Needs as an appreciation of ADEC’s positive & significant role in supporting students with special needs, especially with regard to integrating those students into Abu Dhabi schools and providing them with the best educational services, in line with Abu Dhabi government strategy and policy agenda.
Mr. Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri, ADEC’s Executive Director of School Operations, received the award on behalf of Dr. Al Khaili, from H.E. Mohammed Fadhil Al Hameli, Deputy Chairman and Secretary General of ZHO, during the ceremony held in Emirates Palace for honoring ZHO’s partners. The event was attended by Ms. Mariam Saif Al Qubaisi, ZHO’s Head of Individuals with Special Needs Sector and officials from federal and local government institutions & departments.
H.E. Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, ADEC’s Director General said that “ADEC is keen to ensure that all students are given equal opportunities to develop and best exploit their talents, skills and abilities. Integrating our SN students into Abu Dhabi schools is an essential component of ADEC’s 10-year strategic plan for developing the educational system in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Dr. Al Khaili pointed out that ADEC signed a partnership agreement with ZHO last June in order to help achieve the strategic goals pertaining to the providing quality services to SN students. The two organizations have joined hands in order to provide SN students admitted to public schools and their families with comprehensive educational and support services and ensure increased access to more educational opportunities and better social involvement.”
“1500 students with learning and speech difficulties have been integrated into our public schools over the last two
years, to add to 616 students with visual, hearing, physical and mental impairment and those who suffer from autism and hyperactivity who had been transferred to schools earlier. ADEC has supplied these students with advanced educational tools & aids and provided 50 buses specifically designed for the transportation of physically impaired students. In addition, school buildings have been modified to facilitate their education and enable them to interact positively and ideally with the learning environment,” Dr. Al Khaili added.
“I would like to thank ZHO’s officials for their dedication in meeting the needs of these students. ADEC is keen to foster its partnership with ZHO for the best interests of students,” Dr. Al Khaili said.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Al Dhaheri said that examples of the fruitful outcome of ADEC’s initiative include achieving academic excellence by a number of SN students at the various cycles while some others won awards in several educational competitions; besides, the first group of students with hearing impairment, 6 students, is going to graduate from high school by the end of this school year.”
Amal Al Junaibi, from ADEC’s Special Needs Division, said that “students with special needs are increasingly and continuously supported by ADEC one year after another. Five special education classrooms for deaf students have been opened this year in ADEC schools. For the first time in UAE, special education classroom assistants have been introduced to help educate students with severe and moderate disabilities.
